Detecting fake toes in an Egyptian mummy

An English female researcher is looking to determine if a fake big toe discovered in an Egyptian mummy since 2000 is the first prosthetic part in history.

This wooden and leather "Cairo big toe" was found in a woman's mummy in a grave near Luxor. Traces to prove that this is a famous cleric's wife who lived from 1069 to 664 BC.

Jacky Finch and colleagues from Manchester University are investigating whether this false toe is used for cosmetic purposes or for a certain purpose. They asked volunteers to bring a copy of this fake toe to test whether it had orthopedic features.

The scientists will also study other prosthetics such as "the big toe of Greville Chester ", the name of a collector who bought the prosthetic device in 1881. This big toe is made of linen, acacia. objects and plaster but unconnected joints like " Cairo toes ".

Egyptologists often find mummies accompanied by prosthetic parts in the body such as arms, legs, nose . "Cairo toes" are different because they are 3 parts and may have been brought every day.

Picture 1 of Detecting fake toes in an Egyptian mummy
(Photo LiveScience)

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